ROOF COATING GLOSSARY OF TERMS

There are so many terms with definitions that are unique to the roofing and roof coating industry that we thought it might help you to know what some of them are.

Adhesion Test

A preliminary small patch area testing of the proposed roof coating and or roof primer to the actual roof substrate. This is done to ensure the proper adhesion of the roof coating to the roofing substrate before the entire roof is coated. (Instructions)

Asphalt

An aliphatic compound by-product of the oil industry that is used as a base material for built-up roofing. Asphalt ages by photo-oxidation and heat makes the aging process faster. AWS Coatings can seal asphalt roof surfaces and slow the aging process by reducing the heat and the oxidation processes.

Bitumen

An organic, tar-like liquid form of petroleum that has to be heated or thinned before it is spreadable. Bitumen is practically interchangeable with asphalt and is used primarily for waterproofing roofing systems. AWS Coatings can be used to coat bitumen based roofing systems. (See Modified Bitumen Roof below.)

Cool Roof

A roofing system that provides high reflectivity (solar reflectance) coupled with equally high thermal emittance. Roof systems that are bright white greatly reduce the transfer of heat into the building thereby increasing the building's energy efficiency and saving climate control costs. AWS coatings are cool roofs.

Elastomeric

Having the properties of rubber, i.e. the ability of a roof coating to expand and contract and return to its original shape. AWS Coatings are elastomeric.

Emissitivy

The ability of a roof surface to emit heat as opposed to absorbing the heat produced by the ultra-violet (UV) heat rays of the sun. The higher the roof surface emissivity, the less heat the roof allows into the building, and the cooler the roof runs, allowing for a more energy efficient and less coslty to maintain interior climate.

EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer)

A man-made, traditionally black, rubber used primarily for single-ply, seamed roofing materials and systems. AWS Coatings will adhere to most EPDM roofing.

Flat Roof

This most common style of commercial roof is usually slightly slanted or near horizontal to allow for the easy run off of water. Almost any flat roof substrate can be covered with an AWS Roof Coating.

Green Roofing

Can mean several different things. 1) Actually turning the roof top into a garden-like landscape with shrubs, plants, and flowers. 2) Placing solar powered panels on the roof top to generate one's own electricity. 3) Roofing systems, such as AWS Roof Coatings, that reduce energy consumption and costs. 4) Roofing systems, such as AWS Roof Coatings, that do not require complete a tear off and haul away to the landfill.

Liquid Applied

Roof coatings are provided to the roofing applicator in liquid form and are then applied by brushing or spraying the liquid roof coating in place to form a seamless, rubber-like waterproof roof top. Liquid application allows for a seamless (monolithic) roof top layer.

Mastic

Any of a number of paste-like materials used for protective coatings.

Mil

A unit of thickness measurement that is equal to 1/1000 of an inch. Most roof coating systems are measured in dry mils.

Modified Bitumen

A traditional black roofing material that has modifiers added to bitumen during distillation to enhance aging and elasticity. AWS Coatings can be used to successfully cover and seal modified bitumen roofs.

Monolithic

Formed or composed of a single material without seams or joints, constituting a single unit. The liquid application of a roof coating cures to create a single, seamless (monolithic) rubberized (elastomeric), waterproof membrane that actually becomes the top layer of the roofing system.

Polyester Fabric

A spun-laced textile material composed of staple fibers hydraulically entangled to form a strong reinforcing membrane for cold roofing mastics. The open aperture design allows mastics to flow through and form saturated, rather than a laminated, roofing membrane. AWS Coatings polyester roofing fabric is composed of 100% polyester which has excellent conformability and elongation.

Primer or Priming

After cleaning the roof, the primer is usually the first step in preparing a roof substrate for the application of a roof coating. Roofing primers have several differnt uses when used in conjunction with roof coating and are not always required. Some primers can be used to ensure the adhesion of the roof coating to the roof substrate. Other roof coating primers can be used to inhibit rust on a metal roof before the roof coaintg is applied.

Reflectivity

The ability of a surface to reflect visible and UV heat and light away from itself. This greatly reduces the transfer of heat on and into the structure. All AWS roof coatings possess a high reflectivity rating which helps reduce cooling costs and thermocycling which is a leading cause of premature roof substrate aging and failure.

Roof Coating

A liquid applied, top-layer roofing membrane that is fully adhered and seamless (monolithic) with elsatomeric properties that allow it expand and contract to adapt to changing climate conditions.

R-value

A building and construction industry system of measuring thermal resistance. The R-value equals the ratio of the differrnece in temperature across the insulation the transference of heat through it. The R-value is expressed as the material thickness, divided by thermal conductivity. The larger the R-value number, the more effective the structure's insulation.

SPF (Spray Polyurethane Foam)

A plural component insulation material that can sprayed onto roofs and walls to form a strong, yet lightweight climate barrier. When coupled with a roof coating it forms a waterproof and extremely energy efficient building seal. AWS carries a complete line of SPF materials and supplies.

Substrate

The roof substrate is the base upon which the new roof coating will be applied. Roofing substrates can be made of almost anything - concrete, wood, EPDM, modified bitumen, metal, single-ply, or PVC - and AWS makes a coating that can seal, protect, and waterproof any roofing substrate.

Thermal Conductivity

The measurement of a material's ability to conduct or transfer heat. A material's thermal conductivity is temperature dependent in that it will become more thermally conductive as average temperatures increase.

Thermal Emittance

The ability of a roof to release a large amount of the solar energy that is not reflected or absorbed by the roof, back into the atmosphere. AWS roof coatings have exceptional thermal emittance ratings. (See our Product Data Sheet Technical Specifications.)

Thermocycling

The changing of climate from to cold and back again. When referencing roofing, it usually refers to the climate changes that affect a roof's performance and life-span. AWS roof coating systems are elastomeric and perform well under extreme climate conditions.

TPO (Thermoplastic Polyolefin)

A contemporary single-ply flat roof system that can be ballasted, fully adhered or mechanically attached. AWS carries durable, bright white roof TPO single-ply roof systems when a complete tear off of the existing roof substrate is required.

White Roof

A contemporary, more energy efficient option to traditional "black roof" options. Research shows that white roofs are far superior to black for performance, value, and energy efficiency. The surface of a black roof can have temperatures rise as much as 90°F when exposed to the sun, but a white roof usually only sees a temperature rise of just 10°F to 25°F. Unless a custom color tint is added, all AWS roofing systems are white roof systems.